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| Home >> Technical >> Boat Specification Class Meeting - Conclusions & Update |
10/06/2016 19:40:01
Johnrfyc
Posts: 15
I think the main issue is the mast has a range marker and the mushroom sits in the middle of that scale, which suggests you have that range to play with. In reality its pretty rare you would need to go above the mushroom.
It was only when i first started sailing the boat I found it strange and that was purely because of the markings on the mast.
If the range displayed was below the mushroom, I doubt we'd be having this issue?
I don't have an issue now i've been sailing the boat for a while. As you say Peter, the tack strap adjustment is the bit to adjust, ease it slightly in the light stuff, pull it back on in the heavy stuff.
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07/04/2016 13:33:32
Chunky
Posts: 136
Jonathan,
The Cunningham/downhaul do pull the foot down. However, the tack strap is a little lower and the downhaul does not hold that down.
The lower mushrooms sole function is to keep the front of the foot of the sail tidy, without it you can have to tack strap rising up towards the downhaul cringle.
Some people also use it for a small bimble to run bungee around it and back to the Cunningham/downhaul double black to help it release.
I don’t see the need to ever back off the halyard tension. Instead in a drifter (sub 6kn) I might ease a fraction of tack strap to allow the sail to ease up little extra but this is not vital, it is more important to make sure your downhaul has gone right off. Anyone with a fixed (stitched) tack strap may cut the stitching to make it adjustable. This will be clear in the new World Sailing (ISAF) version of the class rules.
I don’t believe it possible for the tack strap to jump the mushroom as it is always tight against the front of the mast. I wonder if you had it rigged partially on top of the mushroom.
Gareth,
There is no difference regards the new bungee luff sails on this. Jo Richards, Alex Newton-Southon, North Sails and I had a good long look at this with the new bungee luffs on a sunny day on the beach at Gurnard last October.
It was decided at that meeting to keep the mushroom for its job of tidying the bottom 6 inches of the front of the foot. I played to downhaul so much that day I cut my hand!
When sailing inland in a medium/strong breeze I might adjust my downhaul many times over a windward leg, thereby increasing my ‘fully powered’ wind range, rather than being underpowered or overpowered as the gusts and lulls come through. Moving the downhaul this much would result in the tack strap raising to be untidily high if it were not for that mushroom.
Reply
The Cunningham/downhaul do pull the foot down. However, the tack strap is a little lower and the downhaul does not hold that down.
The lower mushrooms sole function is to keep the front of the foot of the sail tidy, without it you can have to tack strap rising up towards the downhaul cringle.
Some people also use it for a small bimble to run bungee around it and back to the Cunningham/downhaul double black to help it release.
I don’t see the need to ever back off the halyard tension. Instead in a drifter (sub 6kn) I might ease a fraction of tack strap to allow the sail to ease up little extra but this is not vital, it is more important to make sure your downhaul has gone right off. Anyone with a fixed (stitched) tack strap may cut the stitching to make it adjustable. This will be clear in the new World Sailing (ISAF) version of the class rules.
I don’t believe it possible for the tack strap to jump the mushroom as it is always tight against the front of the mast. I wonder if you had it rigged partially on top of the mushroom.
Gareth,
There is no difference regards the new bungee luff sails on this. Jo Richards, Alex Newton-Southon, North Sails and I had a good long look at this with the new bungee luffs on a sunny day on the beach at Gurnard last October.
It was decided at that meeting to keep the mushroom for its job of tidying the bottom 6 inches of the front of the foot. I played to downhaul so much that day I cut my hand!
When sailing inland in a medium/strong breeze I might adjust my downhaul many times over a windward leg, thereby increasing my ‘fully powered’ wind range, rather than being underpowered or overpowered as the gusts and lulls come through. Moving the downhaul this much would result in the tack strap raising to be untidily high if it were not for that mushroom.
Reply
07/04/2016 13:22:36
Peter Barton
Posts: 4692
Is this a change with the newer sails with elasticated luffs to need/want to set above mushroom in very light winds (mind you it's been so long since I sailed in light winds I'm not sure I can remember where I set things). I only have the older sails with rope bolt ropes. That said I do feel the mushroom is largely unnecessary.
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Gareth (1023)
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06/04/2016 12:27:45
Gareth
Posts: 171
I mentioned this when I first started sailing the boat.
Can't really understand why its in the middle of where you want to adjust, this is especially important inland when the conditions can change from 15knots to 5 knots and back again within a beat.
I've learned to live with it as its the same for everyone though. I always seat the strap below the nipple!
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06/04/2016 11:44:47
Chunky
Posts: 136
Lower Mast Mushroom
I see in the meeting notes that the function of this is to stop the tack strap & foot of the sail rising.
Why?
Doesn't the Cunningham / Downhaul do this also, duplication?
I ask because with my 9 & 7 rigs to rig for light wind conditions the halyard has to be backed off an inch or two to produce a flatter sail shape with no luff fold.
Fine until the wind picks up, when it means a return to shore to re-set the sail.
Wouldn't it be better to position the mushroom 1 to 2 inches higher such that the halyard can be hoisted fully up tight, and the tack strap horizontal with minimal tension on Cunningham / Downhaul; sufficient just to hold the stop knot in the gooseneck slot?
The sail shape can then be adjusted continuously from light wind flat shape through moderate wind full shape to strong wind flat and de-powering without having to return to shore to reset the halyard.
Also has anyone else had an instance of the tackstrap 'jumping the button' , rising above the mushroom, when easing sail controls to bear off onto a run?
This happened to me last Sunday, April 3rd in Bft 3 on the 7 rig. The rig made a sharp loud noise as though something had broken or come off. Would have been a return to shore to fix; as I was keeping station with 3 Lasers sailed by very good sailors at the time I declined and carried on.
Had the mushroom been higher up the mast there wouldn't have been the jumping and there would have been no question of returning to shore.
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06/04/2016 11:27:14
Jonathan Rickels
Posts: 104
Boat Specification Class Meeting
Weymouth, Friday 28th August 2015
Conclusions & Update
At the UK Nationals in Weymouth on Friday 28th August 2015 we had a ‘Boat Specification’ meeting between the RS Aero UK Class Association (Estonia & Holland also represented) and the Builder, Alex Newton-Southon of RS, and Designer, Jo Richards. This was one year into the new Class and the timing was right to discuss any issues, their resolvement and progression going forwards.
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Weymouth, Friday 28th August 2015
Conclusions & Update
At the UK Nationals in Weymouth on Friday 28th August 2015 we had a ‘Boat Specification’ meeting between the RS Aero UK Class Association (Estonia & Holland also represented) and the Builder, Alex Newton-Southon of RS, and Designer, Jo Richards. This was one year into the new Class and the timing was right to discuss any issues, their resolvement and progression going forwards.
Exactly 6 months on we have conclusions and an update on progress regarding the points raised from Alex, linked here;
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26/02/2016 19:33:32
Peter Barton
Posts: 4692
